TIffany & Co piece - is this silver plated?

jennifer_in_kansasDecember 29, 2012

This is the back of a Faithful Service medal issued by my company years ago but is now for sale on eBay. I'm thinking of purchasing it as a gift for a retiring co-worker. It certainly needs some work so I'm trying to decide if it's worth it. If it's true sterling silver I think I can buff out the engraved name on the back and have it spruced up. If it's plated, I'm not sure I'm up for the cost of quality re-plating.

I wouldn't have thought they could (legally) mark it "sterling" if it was just plated, they would mark it "silver plated".
Is it the only exemplar of this medal available? I ask because there were a few for one company (don't know if it's yours) which were in better nick and at least one unengraved.

I'm not sure why you are questioning if it's sterling when it's clearly stamped as such. The 'm' indicates it was made between 1907 & 1938 (or possibly as late as 1947 depending on which reference book is used).

I was (apparently mistakenly) under the impression sterling had to be marked .925 to be sterling silver through and through. I was also thrown by the terrible finish, thinking it may be silver plating worn off instead of tarnished.

I now realize I was getting Sterling Silver and Silver Plated mixed up. I think I've watched too many Antiques Roadshow segments were people think they have Sterling Silver only to be told it's really plated.

Colleenoz, I was able to find one similar piece without an engraved name but it was priced too high. I don't see them come up too often for sale at this price so I'll take a chance it can be brought back to life.